Computer Book Reviews

Game Creation and Careers by Marc Saltzman
New Riders, June, 2003
Trade Paperback, 707 pages
ISBN: 0735713677
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Game Creation and Careers
by Marc Saltzman

Gaming is one of the few industries doing well during the current, ongoing recession. If you have an interest in the industry (even if you just love playing games) you have a good chance of finding a career -- if you acquire the right skills. In addition to acquiring skills, it will also help to read this book which lays out the available career options and includes numerous ideas, interviews with experts and information to help you learn more about the gaming industry. The book covers all types gaming, including the leading gaming systems (Playstation, GameCube and Xbox), PDA games, computer games and massively multiplayer games. Many chapters in the book are devoted to game design, including design for specific game genres, character design, storyboarding, level and mission designs, programming theory, animation, user interfaces, sound engineering and music. Examples of actual design document templates are provided and hundreds of interviews with gaming experts are given to help readers understand more about a particular gaming design concept. By learning more about each type of game and the many different aspects of game design, readers can learn which niche they might be best suited for. The book also provides information about creating your own shareware game, game conventions, courses and schools related to game creation, and game-related links and resources. Game Creation and Careers is highly recommended for anyone interested in a game-related career or a comprehensive overview of the rapidly developing game industry.

PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites by Larry Ullman
Peachpit Press, May, 2003
Trade Paperback, 572 pages.
ISBN: 0321186486
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

This book provides a solid introduction to PHP and MySQL. The book follows the style of the Visual QuickPro series, which uses pictures and screenshots along with text to explain the two languages and help readers learn what to do. The book begins by explaining the fundamentals of both PHP and MySQL, followed by a couple of chapters on SQL, and then a chapter explaining how to link PHP and MySQL to create dynamic webpages. The rest of the book provides instruction for using the two languages for databases, web applications, e-commerce, cookies, security, content management and user registration. A companion website includes source code and demonstrations of techniques used in the text.

The book is written for a wide range of experience levels, but some prior experience using XHTML or HTML and some basic programming knowledge is recommended. If you have a little HTML knowledge and at least a minimal programming background this book can help you to quickly learn how to use PHP and MySQL -- two powerful languages that can be used to create unique database-driven websites.

Return on Design by Ani Phyo
New Riders, May, 2003
Trade Paperback, 284 pages.
ISBN: 0201756072
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Return on Design
by Ani Phyo

In Return on Design, Ani Phyo, a veteran web designer who founded her own web consultancy service, offers strategies for developing usable and popular websites. Now that the dot-com boom days are over, savvy designers must focus on a website that can bring solid and steady results. And to do that they need to apply solid web design methods and techniques. Phyo's book offers advice, methods, suggestions and real-world examples to help the website development team accomplish goals and learn more about the value of user-centered design.

Phyo takes readers through seven steps for developing and launching a website. The steps include deciding what goes in the website by determining what the users need, developing menus, site maps and navigation schemes and testing prototypes. Readers will learn about web design, usability, and usability testing and how to apply these skills to develop websites that cut costs, save time and are popular with customers, clients and business partners. The book also includes a brief foreword by David Siegel, author of Creating Killer Web Sites. Highly recommended for web developers new to user-centered design.

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Computer Book Reviews

Game Creation and Careers by Marc Saltzman

PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites by Larry Ullman

Return on Design by Ani Phyo